fundamentally
Americanadverb
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in a fundamental and essential way; centrally and foundationally.
a nine-point plan that will fundamentally transform our system of eldercare.
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as regards the basic nature, character, or truth of something; basically and often emphatically.
Fundamentally, they just want their independence.
adverb
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in a way that affects the basis or essentials; utterly
the terms of engagement have been fundamentally altered
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(sentence modifier) in essence; at heart
fundamentally, we want our lives to be safe
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fundamentally
First recorded in 1600–20; fundamental ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
The word fundamentally isn’t fun, exactly, but it does describe things that are true through and through. Vegetarians and meat eaters often have fundamentally different ideas about what makes a healthy meal. Anything fundamental has to do with the foundation or bare bones of something. Similarly, anything described fundamentally is getting down to the essence. Lying is fundamentally dishonest. If something is fundamentally wrong, don’t do it! If you and your dad have fundamentally different opinions about restaurants, it’s better to make dinner at home. This word means about the same as basically or essentially. If something is fundamentally true, it's true in a deep sense.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Ice and liquid water are fundamentally different than lava and the volcanoes that we see here on Earth," he said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, he said he would not apologise for an "inadvertent mistake" that he said Farage had amplified in a "fundamentally dishonest way".
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
MarketWatch: When did it become clear that AI had crossed into something fundamentally new?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Third, and most fundamentally, laws against betting on voting may be justified by the same interests as laws barring the buying and selling of votes overall.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
They require fundamentally different talents and attitudes toward material as well as subject matter.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
